7 Power Habits That Will Improve Your Life Immediately

Whether we realize it or not, most of what we accomplish in life results from our good or not-so-good habits.

To that end, if we want to be successful in any area of our lives, developing the most effective, success-promoting habits is in our best interests.

Here are 7 power habits that, once implemented, will improve your life immediately:

1. Take care of yourself. Nothing else will matter if you are in poor health, have no energy, or project a negative or downer attitude. Successful people work out, eat healthily, and care for themselves on every level possible. There is no substitute for feeling good and knowing you're in a position to give your best effort. Taking care of yourself is necessary to succeed in everything you undertake. 

2. Cultivate and maintain a productive attitude/mindset. Remember to consider the impact of your attitude or mindset. How you approach each day and your challenges will inevitably affect your outcome. 

For example, if you wake up feeling that nothing works out for you, that the world is against you, that life is unfair, or that no one supports you – make no mistake, nothing will work out, and it will seem like everything is against you. 

On the other hand, if you begin the day with a 'can do' mindset that says you will enthusiastically take on whatever comes your way, it will feel like nothing is impossible. Even if everything doesn't work out as planned, you will know you gave it your best. 

3. Challenge yourself. There is nothing like challenging yourself mentally, physically, and intellectually to clear out those cobwebs. When you challenge yourself, you remain alert, ready, and capable of tackling adversity and obstacles. 

Additionally, you put yourself in the best position to prevail and overcome. Ways to challenge yourself mentally include learning a new skill, playing chess or Sudoku, or working out crossword puzzles. Not only do these activities sharpen your mental skills, they are also fun! 

For intellectual challenge, reading or exploring anything that makes you think or look at a situation differently is beneficial. Reading the works of scientists, philosophers, and psychologists is exciting and intellectually stimulating. 

Physically, you can challenge yourself by incorporating resistance and cardiovascular exercises into your routine. Resistance exercises build muscle, while cardiovascular exercises such as walking, jogging, or climbing stairs boost your metabolism, strengthen your heart, and improve your overall well-being. Being fit and in shape has the benefit of enhancing both your mental and physical health. Exercise improves your cognitive function.

4. Engage with others. Engaging with others opens us to new experiences, expands our knowledge, and deepens human connection. Studies have shown that interacting with others changes our brain's circuit activity and neurotransmitters. It decreases stress and anxiety while increasing calm and happy feelings (oxytocin, often called the love hormone, is released when we bond with others). 

5. Recommit to self-discipline. We all fall off the self-discipline wagon occasionally; however, after doing so, we must remind ourselves that to accomplish anything or sustain a high level of performance, we must recommit to self-discipline. 

 As mentioned in my article Self-Discipline - The Foundation for Success, self-discipline allows you to reach your goals in a reasonable time frame. It makes it possible to live a more orderly and satisfying life possible. Successful people practice the power habit of self-discipline. 

6. Expand your comfort zone. Expanding your comfort zone allows you to test your limits and tap into your inner, sometimes undiscovered, resources. You increase what is possible when you're willing to venture beyond safe and comfortable. Conversely, not trying new things or playing it too safe causes stagnation and thwarts creativity and innovation. 

7. Set up a power habit journal. Setting up a power habit journal is a great way to remind yourself of your successes and to motivate you to continue to stretch your talents and abilities. Journaling also documents and articulates your dreams, ambitions, and aspirations. 

This power habit invariably helps you stay focused and mindful of your goals. Other benefits of maintaining a power journal include increased awareness, promotion of growth, and the establishment of clarity.

Take the time to incorporate these 7 Power Habits as a regular part of your routine. You will experience the positive results that lead to continued and sustainable personal success.